If you search for the keyword “drone” in the more than 140-page coalition agreement presented by the CDU/CSU and SPD to form a new German government, you will find a total of three hits. The term “unmanned” only appears once. Not a lot when you consider the disruptive potential of unmanned aerial systems - commonly known as drones - for society, the economy and the Bundeswehr.
“Of course, more specific measures to promote the UAS industry and an even clearer commitment to Germany as a drone location would have been important,” says Dr. Gerald Wissel, CEO of UAV DACH. “But overall, we welcome the fact that the presumably future German government will focus on promoting aerospace, which is inconceivable without the establishment of an internationally competitive drone economy.”
The efforts mentioned in the coalition agreement in the field of modern agriculture and with regard to efficient capabilities for detecting and defending against uncooperative drones are therefore a step in the right direction. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement. For example, when it comes to the digitalization of airspace, the establishment of ecologically sustainable advanced air mobility services and the monitoring and protection of critical infrastructure. While Germany plays a leading international role in research and development in the field of unmanned aviation, the music in terms of market capitalization and production is played in other regions of the world. Not least because the industry receives massive government support in China and the USA, for example. Far more than is currently the case in Europe in general and in Germany in particular. Moving forward with courage and foresight is therefore the order of the day. “The crises and conflicts of our time make it clear how important strategic autonomy in key technologies is,” says Dr. Gerald Wissel. “Anyone who wants to take responsibility for Germany cannot avoid a clear commitment to unmanned aviation.”
This is an excerpt from the UAV DACH press release on the coalition agreement. The full text is available for download here (German)